Who is Dustin Diamond? From starring in Saved by the Bell to directing Screeched: Saved by the Smell

Here's what we know about his sex tape, his arrest and his controversial tell-all

BY MICHELLE HIGGINS

14th November 2016, 5:45 pm

Updated: 14th November 2016, 5:45 pm

SAVED by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond has added plenty more feathers to his cap since he rose to fame on US sitcom Saved by the Bell in the early Nineties.

Among them are author (but not really — he claims a ghostwriter was behind his controversial autobiography), and porn star (but not really — he claims he used a stunt double).

Here's what we know about the former child star.

Alamy

Dustin Diamond played nerdy Screech on Nineties kids' sitcom Saved by the Bell

Who is Dustin Diamond?

Dustin was born January 7, 1977, in San Jose, California.

He became a household name playing nerdy Samuel "Screech" Powers in NBC's hit kids' TV show Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1988 (when it was known as Good Morning, Bliss) to 1993, and its spin-offs Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1994) and Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1994-2000).

Rex Features

The ex-child star has made headlines for a sex tape, an arrest and a controversial tell-all

Later he toured as a stand-up comedian and appeared on a series of game shows and reality shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, The Weakest Link, Celebrity Fit Club, Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling and Celebrity Boxing 2.

The actor is also known for his 2006 sex tape and his 2014 arrest in Wisconsin for carrying a concealed weapon.

Why did he apologise to his former Saved by the Bell co-stars?

Rex Features

Dustin's book claimed his former castmates had sex with each other and did drugs behind the scenes

The actor apologised for unflattering revelations in his 2009 tell-all autobiography Behind the Bell, a book he now says was largely fabricated by a ghostwriter.

Among the claims were that Mark-Paul Gosselar used steroids and that various cast members had sex with each other.

He wrote of actress Elizabeth Berkely, for example: "There was a desperation to her ho'ing. I wouldn't be surprised if Elizabeth walked in one end of the dressing room while Tiffani [Thiessen] walked out the other."

ABC

Dustin Diamond apologised to former Saved by the Bell co-stars on The Dr. Oz Show

On an episode of The Dr. Oz Show that aired November 10, 2016, he expressed regret over the "damage" caused, blaming it on "things that were done by people who took advantage of me and the situation I was in at the time".

Addressing his former castmates through the camera, he added: “I will say, guys, I think you’re fantastic.

"Working with you has been just one of the icons of my life and I’m sorry that this has taken advantage of me — the book and other situations I’m sure we’ll talk about here.

"But I’m sure that you’ve experienced downfalls as well in your time, and I’m still loving you guys.”

What else did Dustin say in Behind the Bell?

Alamy

According to his tell-all, Dustin has had sex with more than 2,000 women

The book also alleged Dustin had sex with more than 2,000 women, including NBC's VP of children's programming, Linda Mancuso.

Dustin now claims the book was ghostwritten by an author who had fabricated many of the details

When did Dustin get arrested and what for?

AP:Associated Press

Dustin was arrested in Ozaukee, Wisconsin, in 2014 for possession of a switchblade. He was alleged to have stabbed a man during a bar fight on Christmas Day.

Dustin was found guilty of disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon, and sentenced to four months in prison.

He served three and was released on probation.

What about that sex tape?

Alamy

Dustin claims he used a body double for his sex tape

Dustin directed and released his own sex tape, charmingly titled Screeched — Saved by the Smell, in 2006.

He later said in an interview with the Oprah Winfrey Network's Where Are They Now? that he'd been inspired to make the tape after hearing a rumour Paris Hilton had made $14million from her sex tape, 1 Night in Paris.

Dustin also said he was "embarrassed" about the tape, and that it was a stunt double, not him, in the video, with Dustin's face added in digitally.